Improvement in ore roasting and desulphurizing furnaces



2 Sheets-dimer; 1.

I: -A.RA1V[AGE. Ore-Roastingafid Desulphurizing Furnace.

No. 207,065. Patented Aug. 13,1878.

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N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHWAPMER, WASHINGTON, D C.

2 Shets"-She et A. RAMAGE. I Ore-Roasting and Desulphnrizing Furnace.No. 207,065; Patented Aug. 13, 1878.

NPEIERS FHOTO-UTKOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D. O,

UNITED" STATES PAT NTOFFIOE.

ALEXANDER RAMAGE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE FOURTHS OF HISRIGHT TO WVILLIAM BROVN, HOMER T. ENGLE, AND

ROBERT RAEBURN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ORE ROASTING AND DESULPHURIZING FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,065, dated August13, 1878 application filed April 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Barman, of Denver, in the county ofArapahoe and State of Golorado, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Ore Roasting and Desulphurizin g :Furnaces, of which thefollowing is a specification:

My invention relates to a furnace for roastin g and desulphurizingmetallic ores and con sists in constructing the flue leading from thefurnace or fire-box so as to surround the vertical roasting-tube, theupper endof which is open to admit the flame and products of eombustion,all "of which pass through the tube downward and then over theore'chamber and condenser to the main escape-flue, whereby all the heatof the fuel is availed of, first outside and then inside of theroasting-tube, and the flame andgases are utilized in the process.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of thisspecification, Figure 1, Sheet 1,- is a side elevation of a furnaceembodying my improvement. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a vertical section ofsame, showing the co1istruction.

The foundations are of stone masonry, and the walls of brick.

A represents the fire-box or furnace A, the flue leading to the open topof thevertieal roasting-tube B, which is constructed of fireclay orother suitable material, and is entirely surrounded by the flue.

The lower end, a, of the tube communicates with the ore-chambcr (J, thebottom of which gradually deepens, and is provided at the lowest pointwith a discharge, b, which is closed bya sliding plate, 0. (l is abridge separating the condensing-tank I) from the ore-chamber. E is theescape-flue.

I Upon-the top of the dome inclosin g the roast ing-tubeis fixed thehopper F, from which a tube, 0, leads through the dome to the large tubeB. A small iron pipe, f, enters the tube 0, and has its end bentdownward. It is provided with a cock, 2', and leads to a suitableapparatus from which dry steam is supplied. 1 is a metallic vessel, witha finely-pcrtbrated bottom, placed across the top of theeondensing-tank. Water is supplied to this perforated vessel by the pipeat. A cock, 1), is attached to the tank D for drawing off the water. Inthe side of the ore'chamber is adoor, s, placed so as to aiford accessto the discharge 1) for the purpose of cleaning or repairing.

. The furnace is operated as follows: In heating up, the flames and hotgases of combustion surround the large tube 13 and enter the same at thetop, passing downward, and thence over the ore-chamber 0, bridge (I, andcondensing-tank D, escaping finally by the flue E. The heating is tocontinue until the inside of the tube B is red, which may be seen bylooking through the hopper, when the ore, which has beenpreviouslypulverized as fine as possible, is delivered into the hopper,from which it runs in a steady stream through the pipeciuto the heatedroasting-tube. At the same time steam in proper quantity is admitted bythe pipe f, and descends with the pulverized ore.

By the action of the decomposed steam and gases present in theroasting-tube the sulphides are decomposed, and the easily oxidizedmetals, such as iron, take up oxygen, sulphur passes off, and the goldor silveris set free.

As the ore falls into the chamber 0 the smoke and gases pass over thebridge, and, in passing across the condenser, are sprayed by the waterfrom the vessel I, the effect of which is to cool the same and throwdown any particles of metal that have been carried over by the draft.The withdrawal of the slide 0 permits the ores to discharge.

This furnace will desulphurize and oxidize ores of iron, as well as oresof tellurium, with a great economy of fuel. Ores of galena may betreated, and it will chlorinate successfully by mixing with the orechloride of sodium, and admitting chlorine gas instead of steam.

I am aware that furnaces have been used having an upright tube, throughwhich, when heated, the ore is passed; but in such the tube is heatedonly on the outside, while by the arrangement described the heat isfirst availed of on the outside of the tube, and then the flame andgases are further utilized in the pro oess by their passing through thetube from the top downward.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a furnace for roasting and desulphurizin g ores, the combinationof the vertical tube B, having its upper end open to admit the flame andgases of combustion, and tube 0, leading from the hopper, and its lowerend communicating with the ore-chamber O, as shown and described.

2. In a furnace for roasting and desulphurizing ores, the combination ofthe several parts described--namely, the furnace A, flue A, en tire] ysurrounding the roasting-tube B and connecting with its open upper end,tube 0, leadin g from the hopper, and pipe f and ore-chamber 0, allsubstantially as specified.

ALEXANDER RAMAGE. Witnesses:

ROBERT RAEBURN, II. L. TIIAYER.

